Depression And Suicide: Someone Intervene Before It Gets That Bad!

Depending on how depression impacts a person it is possible that depression can lead to thoughts of suicide and depending on the magnitude of the depression sometimes those thoughts can lead a person to actually commit suicide.

What keeps us from noticing the signs and from intervening before it gets to that level? Do we simply not recognize the signs are do we choose to ignore them out of ignorance?

For many suffering with depression feel as if it is a relief, the final end for those who have struggled mightily with the demons of depression. However, too often the loved ones and family members of those who are suffering most deeply with depression believe incorrectly that there is simply no way that suicide will be the end result.

This fallacy has led to many a broken family as suicide and depression go hand in hand far too often. We are quite incapable as families and friends of those suffering with depression to “treat” the condition. It is vital that you help the person suffering by getting them to a professional who can help. Find a professional that will listen and don’t stop advocating for your loved one until you get the help they need.

There is no need in trying to really understand the depths of depression and the demons that it brings unless you have battled the war yourself.

Too often we brush off comments that begin to sound darker and darker thinking to ourselves “life just isn’t all that bad… there’s no way my friend or loved one would actually go through with it… they can shake it off”.

Danger, danger… you must not think in this manner. Thoughts of and thinly veiled comments of suicide are not a call for attention, they are a cry for help, they are a cry that should ring through your soul and you should not rest until you have helped your loved one get the help the so desperately need. Do not brush it off…take it seriously…and get moving… intervene now.

It is important to dispel the myth that if a person talks about suicide that they will not make a suicide attempt.

Wrong.

In fact speaking of this heinous act is how you can know that the depression has actually reached the depths of the pit. If you hear these comments, stop whatever you are doing and get professional help for your loved one. This is not a comment that you can ignore. It is simply too serious.

The apathy and hopelessness brought on by the depression can cause someone not to even be able to think rationally anymore. They probably are not even able to form a thought that says “I am going to kill myself because I have nothing to live for”, they generally feel so much apathy about life itself that suicide seems a sweet relief.

Those suffering with depression are at an even higher risk for suicide if they are using alcohol and drugs to numb the pain of depression. Suicide does not distinguish between classes of people; it does not just target the rich or the poor. Suicide crosses all social boundaries.

Often times we incorrectly assume that if we talk about suicide with a friend or loved one who is suffering from depression that we will give them that push they need, or we will somehow inadvertently give them “permission” to commit suicide. Again, this is a myth. Often talking about it helps to relieve some of the pressure and anxiety of keeping it hidden.

Another very common myth is that a suicide attempt is a method to get attention.

Good grief!

How many years is it going to take for us to realize this is wrong! Incorrect! No where close to the truth!

Any action taken to end one’s life is serious. While some believe that if someone attempts suicide using a method they know will ultimately fail, is just a call for help and not really all that serious. Regardless…hear this…any suicide attempt must be taken seriously and you must do whatever it takes to get help from a professional.

Thoughts and feelings that lead someone to make an attempt at suicide do not go away quickly. If the attempt is survived, do not just think everything is ok with the world. It’s not. Professionals must intervene and help to provide ongoing treatment in order to help work through what brought on the attempt or near attempt in the first place.

Depression and suicide often go hand in hand. Regardless of what you believe personally those suffering with depression need help and they need help now! Do not delay.

Help to find the professional assistance needed in order to deal with the dark depression threatening to engulf your friend or loved one.

14 Comments

Annie on February 17, 2015 at 7:31 pm

I have this “sad” place in my “gut” even when I’m happy it still sits there deep down, I’ve started seeing a phycologist for anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress, and there is things i want to tell him but I don’t want him taking it the wrong way and writing down on my report that I’m suicidal, because although I ll be honest though the years at times I have thought about it I could never do it, my friend committed suicide and i have seen what it did to her family, also I’m not sure if I’ll go to hell if i do and that would be permanent and I’ve read that if you have children under a certain age they have higher chances of doing the same if their parents did. But I have these odd fleeting thoughts when i drive, if a truck passes me, wondering what it would feel like to have a headon collision with it, or if I’ve had a bad day, also just a brief thought about accelerating into a tree, I wouldnt do it, but why these thoughts, maybe I’m just tired and need a holiday? But I’m scared of my psychologists reaction.

I’m trying to muster up the courage to tell him, i see him on Friday, I don’t trust anyone enough to tell them, people would be surprised if they knew I was seeing a phycologist because what i portray to everyone else is not what I mostly feel inside, it’s very exhausting hiding the way i feel, but I’ve always been the good, faithful, compassionate maybe slightly down person, who puts on her boots and keeps going. I can’t trust anyone enough, i feel like such a fraud. This can’t be who I’ve become it’s not what i thought my life would be. I will try my best to get it out, it feels like it will expose me and I’m scared he will take it wrong, please pray for me and thanks for the reply

Hi Sean, I’m sorry to bother you again, Im needing a sounding board please, I know what I’m doing is wrong, but I can’t and don’t want to give it up, at the same time a part of me feels so guilty. I didn’t handle my stresses in life to well and i comfort ate, needless to say i got so discustingly obes, i basically doubled my body weight. two years ago i could feel that if i didnt do something i probably wouldnt Be coming back from it, and probably wouldnt last long. I got a diet pill from my gynaecologist which I’ve been taking for the past 2 year, in November they discovered that i have a genetic heart defect called wolff-parkinson-white syndrome, and my gp who i had told that i was on these dp said i need to stop taking them or i could drop down dead. I’ve lost about 32 kgs but have still about another 38 to go.

I havent stopped, I don’t want to, i cannot go back to what i was because i might as well be dead anyway. The problem is when i have things wrong with me which i know are either associated with my heart or dp, like racing heart beat, shakiness, dizziness, numb gums and face etc i cannot tell my gp,i still get my script from my gynaecologist. I know it’s so dishonest to do, and that’s not who i normally am. but i know if i stop that craving for food will be waiting for me, since i haven’t been able to eat lots I’ve taken up the vile habbit of picking at my scabs and they get really sore some times and bleed. I have places on my upper arms that i mainly go to, but also do it on my head and under my feet. I find it very soothing and therapeutic as ridiculous and discusting as that sounds. My psychologist said to me on Friday that he senses that there is something I’m struggling with to speak about, i told him there is but im not ready to give it up, and I just couldn’t tell him, Even though he waited awhile for me to say somethin,i couldn’t get it out my mouth. I’m scared he’s going to make me stop and then i don’t know what im going to do. Please do you have some advice for me?

Annie, the only advice I can give here is to listen to your doctors. Ask your gp if there is something else that may be helpful in place of the diet pill. Ask for a consultation with a nutritionist, get involved with an online support group, or sign up for myfitnesspal.com and start tracking what you eat.

If it were me, I would stop taking the diet pills and start doing the right work to lose the weight (calorie counting and exercise come to mind here). In the end losing the weight the right way is up to you alone. This is one of those situations in life where there is no easy way out… believe me, I know. Good luck to you.

Hi Sean, How you doing? Hope you are doing ok.. Just wanted to tell you that I finally told my Psychologist today about the diet pills, although abit of a cop out because it came up at the end of our session and sort of because we were going to discuss me going on medication to help take the edge off my stress and depression and i had to fess up that i cannot because of the diet pills I’m on, he asked the name and i eventually gave it to him. I know i had to do this and i know that it’s going to lead to me having to stop, and although im not addicted, i really don’t want to stop as contradictory as that sounds. The thought actually is quite stressful. Anyway at least he knows now i suppose and im not hiding it from him, and i also fessed up that my gp said i could “drop” if i keep taking them because of the wolff white parkinson syndrome thing. I know it was the right thing to do, but a hang of a hard thing to do I’m not looking forward to what’s coming… I feel like such a child instead of a grown woman! I just thought I’d let you know because of the advice that you gave me bebefore, thanks so much for all your support and advice,it just helps knowing there is a listening ear, I really appreciate it. Thankyou

Sean Bennick on March 27, 2015 at 3:42 pm

Way to go, Annie! I know how hard that must have been. I know the stress is pretty heavy right now, but it will start to lift, and it will continue to lift. Once you have that under control, you’ll have less stress than you had before you told your Psychologist.

I have suffered since fifteen yrs old. I took close to six hundred Tylenol pm, watched the clock run, looking at my letters… and then thought, “my nephew will never remember!!” Thatpt was when I cried out for gods help. I saw the light, I was in it, then i woke up five days later. I love my freaking nephew with all my heart!